Joiner brings two tough ones to California

Trainer Mike Joiner always has a strong stakes stable in New Mexico, but he looks to increase his California presence with My Buddie racing in the trials to the $425,000-estimated Governor's Cup Futurity and FDD Dynasty in the trials to the $180,000 Governor's Cup Derby at Los Alamitos.

The 350-yard futurity trials are on Friday night, and the 400-yard derby trials are on Saturday evening.

My Buddie has received a lot of attention after a most impressive maiden victory for owner Ed Allred, but it is now time for the gelding to attempt to live up to expectations at the Grade 1 futurity level by qualifying for the Governor's Cup Futurity. The gelding stunned Quarter Horse racing when he won his maiden at Los Alamitos on June 21 in a superb 17.30 seconds for 350 yards. He easily won by 4 1/4 lengths, a nearly unheard-of margin in a Quarter Horse race at that distance.

"My Buddie needs to prove himself and I'm confident he can do it," Joiner said. "He wants to act like a professional. He does it so easy. He came back to the barn from that maiden race like it was a workout."

Allred will also be represented by Freaky, trained by Scott Willoughby. Freaky was sixth in the Grade 1 Kindergarten and ninth in the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million.

Reigning champion 2-year-old colt FDD Dynasty makes his 3-year-old debut in the derby trials after winning the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million, finishing second in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million, and running third in the Grade 1 Golden State Million. The Ed Burke marked the first California Grade 1 win for Joiner.

FDD Dynasty has won 5 of 7 career starts and earned $945,226.

"He had a small chip in each ankle taken out this winter, and everything turned out well," Joiner said. "We're pointing him to the [Los Alamitos] Super Derby this fall and, hopefully, the Champion of Champions."

Also in the derby trials is Checknbac, trained by Jaime Gomez. She finished in a dead heat for the win in the Governor's Cup Futurity and was third in the Grade 1 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity as the 9-10 favorite.

Gun Battle enters Zia trial at Ruidoso

All American Futurity runner-up Gun Battle makes his seasonal debut in the first of two trials to the $93,272 Zia Derby at Ruidoso Downs on Friday afternoon.

Gun Battle won last year's Zia Futurity and then rolled to a five-length win in his trial to the Grade 1, $1 million All American Futurity. He was favored in the All American Futurity but finished a neck behind No Secrets Here in the 440-yard classic.

Challenge Night at Sam Houston

This Snow Is Cold heads the Challenge Championship night on Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park when she starts in the Grade 1, $106,560 Bank of America Texas Challenge.

This Snow Is Cold won last year's Grade 1, $300,000 Challenge Championship at Lone Star Park and has come back this season to win both of her starts. She comes off a fastest-qualifying trial win to the Texas Challenge when she won by 1 1/2 lengths in 21.793 seconds for 440 yards.

In the Grade 3, $67,680 Bayer Legend Texas Derby Challenge, fastest qualifier A Special Stoli meets two-time Grade 1 winner Snowy Alibi.

A Special Stoli won the Grade 2 Longhorn Derby and comes off a trial win in 20.036 for 400 yards, the fastest time from three trials.

Snowy Alibi raced to Grade 1 wins last year in the Sam Houston Futurity and the TQHA Sale Futurity before finishing third in the $300,000 Southwest Juvenile Championship.